30 Stars Who Tragically Died Before Their Final Performance Released
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VOICE OVER: Phoebe de Jeu
WRITTEN BY: Jordy McKen
From beloved action stars to comedy legends, join us as we remember the talented performers who left us too soon, before their final works could reach audiences. Our tribute includes legendary names from classic Hollywood to modern cinema, highlighting their last performances and the circumstances of their untimely departures. From Heath Ledger's final role in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" to Paul Walker's touching farewell in "Furious 7", we explore these poignant last appearances and their impact on cinema history.
30 Actors Who Tragically Died Before Their Final Film Released
Welcome to MsMojo, and today were looking at tragic times performers passed away before they were able to see their final productions released to the public or even complete them.
Best known for his work as the title horror icon in the Candyman franchise, Todd was a prolific actor and voice artist with over 250 credits throughout his career. Another scary franchise he was involved in was Final Destination, where he played the creepy William Bludworth, a role he reprised in 2025s Final Destination Bloodlines. However, before its release, Todd sadly passed away in 2024 after a long illness. Several months after his death, in 2025, Werewolf Game was released, with Todd in his element as a baddie. Also, in the same year, Cutters Club finally debuted, which Todd originally shot in 2005.
From a jock, to a reluctant glee member, to falling in love with the club, Finn Hudson was a fan favorite character. Working on Glee slingshotted Monteith into fame and a relationship with co-star Lea Michele. Yet, behind the scenes, he struggled with substance issues. After getting treatment as a teenager, the problem returned in 2013. Sadly, that year, Monteith was found unresponsive in a hotel after an overdose of multiple substances. After Glee took a break and reworked the show, they had an emotional send-off to Finn and Monteith in the episode The Quarterback. Shortly after passing, his two final productions were screened at the Toronto International Film Festival with McCanick and All the Wrong Reasons.
In 1989, six months after his birth, Yelchins family left the Soviet Union and moved to the US. From there, he developed into a rising star in Hollywood from performances in Like Crazy and Terminator Salvation. Yet, Yelchins most famous role was in the rebooted Star Trek franchise as Pavel Chekov. However, weeks before the third instalment, Star Trek Beyond, was set to come out in 2016, tragedy struck. As Yelchin was getting mail, his Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled and pinned him, taking his life. The actors parents issued a lawsuit against the car models manufacturers, Fiat Chrysler, which was settled in 2018. Following his tragic death, several other films featuring Yelchin were released, the last of which was 2017s We Don't Belong Here.
One half of creating Pee-Wee Herman alongside Paul Reubens, Hartman found massive comedy success as a long-running cast member on Saturday Night Live in the late 80s and early 90s. He then began voicing several characters on The Simpsons, including the iconic Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure. In 1998, Hartman was fatally shot in his sleep by his wife, Brynn Omdahl. Shortly after, while under the influence of multiple substances, she took her own life. Omdahls brother later issued a lawsuit against Pfizer, which produced a medication she was on. The suit was settled for $100,000. Hartmans final live-action film role was in 1998s Small Soldiers. He also lent his voice to the English dub for Kiki's Delivery Service and Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night.
One of Hollywoods original Blonde Bombshells, Harlow began her acting career in 1928. It was 1930s Hells Angels when her career started to take off, turning her into an icon of the industry. In 1937, Harlow was filming alongside Clark Gable for Saratoga when she began to feel unwell and collapsed. She was soon admitted to the hospital with kidney failure. Unfortunately, Harlow didnt recover and passed away. MGM, the production company behind Saratoga, originally wanted to recast Harlows role with a different performer. However, with her fans hating that idea, Mary Dees stepped in as Harlows body double for the final scenes. Saratoga was released several weeks after the actors death, becoming one of the years highest-grossing films.
With the creepy words of theyre here in 1982s Poltergeist, O'Rourke made her legend in the film industry as a child. After appearing in the 1986 sequel as Carol Anne Freeling, O'Rourke returned in 1988s Poltergeist III. However, months before the film debuted, the young actor collapsed at home. Suffering from septic shock from congenital stenosis of the intestine, O'Rourke had multiple heart attacks and sadly didnt make it. O'Rourkes mother, Kathleen, issued a lawsuit against the hospital that treated her daughter for wrongful death after misdiagnosing her with Crohns disease. The suit was settled out of court.
With a storied career in the industry, not only was she an actor, famously playing Leia Organa in Star Wars, Fisher was also a script doctor who worked on several big productions. In 2015, she returned to the space opera franchise with the sequel, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In 2016, a year before the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Fisher had a heart attack on a flight back from the UK. While she was taken to the hospital, she unfortunately passed away. Her mother, the legendary Debbie Reynolds, died the day after. With archive footage, 2019s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker gave Leia and Fisher an ending to their story. In 2023, she appeared in her final film role, Wonderwell.
Not only was he setting the business alight with his work as the Black Panther in the MCU, but Boseman was also the go-to actor for biopics after portraying Jackie Robinson and James Brown, among others. Yet, to make it even more impressive, he had been secretly facing bowel cancer since 2016. Sadly, in 2020, the disease caught up to him, and Boseman passed away. A couple of months later, Bosemans final live-action film was released, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. His performance earned him an Oscar and BAFTA nominations, as well as a Golden Globe. Bosemans final work was voicing T'Challa in Marvels animated series What If...?, which aired in 2021, earning him a deserved Primetime Emmy.
A Golden Globe and Grammy-winning actor, as well as a multi-time Oscar nominee, Harris was already an icon in the industry by the time he was cast in 2001s Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as Albus Dumbledore. In 2002, several months before Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was released, the Irish actor was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Unfortunately, after a couple of months, the disease eventually took his life. Dumbledore was later recast with fellow Irish actor, Michael Gambon, taking on the wizard role. After Harry Potter, Harriss final role was voice acting for the French animated film, the 2004 English dub of Kaena: The Prophecy.
One Oscar win plus two other nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, and appearing in over 65 productions, Gable had an acting career that anyone would be jealous of. After all, with his star power and signature moustache bringing him a fortune, it was no wonder he was known as the King of Hollywood. In 1960, Gable was cast opposite Marilyn Monroe for The Misfits. However, less than two weeks after filming had finished, Gable went to the hospital with a suspected heart attack. A second attack developed an infection that sadly took his life. Three months after the tragedy, The Misfits was released, marking Gables final bow as an actor.
On September 17, 2002, ABC began airing a sitcom called 8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter. John Ritter starred as an uptight and overprotective father named Paul Hennessy. The first season was a huge ratings success for the network, but Ritter passed away shortly into the second. While rehearsing on set, Ritter started vomiting and experiencing severe chest pain, so he was rushed to a nearby hospital. He was treated for a heart attack, but his affliction was later found to be an aortic dissection. Ritter died later that night - coincidentally, in the very same hospital in which he was born. The ratings of 8 Simple Rules plummeted without Ritter, and it was canceled after three seasons.
A British character actor, many people recognize Roy Kinnear as Veruca Salts father from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Kinnear worked a lot with director Richard Lester, and he starred in three of his Musketeers movies. He would die during production of the third. While shooting, Kinnear fell off a horse and suffered both a broken pelvis and internal bleeding. The injuries were severe and put great strain on Kinnears body, and he died of a heart attack the following day. Kinnears family later won multiple settlements over his death. They sued the production company for their sloppy health and safety measures, and they later went against the Madrid hospital in which Kinnear died for their poor quality of care.
Coincidentally, Oliver Reed starred alongside Roy Kinnear in the Musketeers films, playing Athos. He later found great acclaim portraying Antonius Proximo in Gladiator, although this would be his final role. Reed suffered from alcohol use disorder and on May 2, 1999, he got into a drinking competition with some sailors while filming in Malta. He drank about $600 worth of alcohol before competing with them in arm wrestling. Following the fights, Reed collapsed and died of a heart attack. Gladiator was finished with the help of CGI and a body double, and Reed was posthumously nominated for a BAFTA.
This male model was cast as Mac Harper on an 80s CBS action show called Cover Up. He appeared in just eight episodes of the show before passing away at 26. To film an action scene, Hexum was given a functional .44 Magnum that was loaded with blanks. Bored between takes, Hexum decided to play Russian roulette with the gun, seemingly unaware that blanks fired at such close range can cause serious harm. Hexum suffered some horrible luck and fired the blank directly into his head. He underwent emergency surgery and stayed on life support for about a week, but he was eventually declared brain-dead. He was then taken off and his organs were donated to those in need, including a five-year-old child.
To this day, James Dean is the only actor to have received two posthumous Oscar nominations for acting. He was nominated for his roles as Cal Trask in East of Eden and Jett Rink in Giant. Dean very famously died on September 30, 1955 when his Porsche T-boned a Ford on what is now State Route 46 in California. Dean was raced to a nearby hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival. According to the book Ferber, A Biography of Edna Ferber and Her Circle, Dean had not quite finished work on Giant at the time of his death. He was still required for dubbing in post-production, so his best friend Nick Adams filled in for his late companion.
Natalie Woods death remains one of Hollywoods greatest mysteries. Wood was quite popular throughout the 50s and 60s, but she took a hiatus to focus on her children. By late 1981, Wood was filming a comeback movie called Brainstorm with Christopher Walken. During a scheduled break, Wood, her husband, and Walken went on a yachting trip to Santa Catalina Island. On the night of November 28, 1981, Wood somehow went over the side and drowned. Suspicion has repeatedly been placed on her husband, Robert Wagner. He has been named a person of interest by the police, and the boats captain claimed that Wagner was responsible for his wifes death. Woods sister was brought in to replace her for the filming of Brainstorm.
In 1994, legendary funnyman John Candy was filming a movie called Wagons East in Mexico when he died of a heart attack in his sleep. Candy was notoriously unhealthy through much of his professional life. He continuously struggled with his weight and tended to binge eat. He was also a very heavy smoker and drinker, and he was known to have a substance use disorder. It all took a toll on his body, and he passed away at just 43. Candy had finished most of his scenes for Wagons East, and those that werent were completed with the help of a body double and some clever editing.
Known as The Princess of R&B, Aaliyah saw great success throughout the 90s and early 2000s. All three of her albums have been certified multi-platinum, and she had five singles reach the top ten in the United States. She eventually found success in movies as well, starring as Akasha in Queen of the Damned. At the time of her death, Aaliyah was filming scenes for The Matrix Reloaded, as she had been cast as a character named Zee. Tragically, Aaliyah died in a plane crash on the night of August 25, 2001. Aaliyahs footage was cut from The Matrix Reloaded, and the character of Zee was recast with Nona Gaye in the role.
Like John Candy, Chris Farley did not take care of himself, and it led to a premature death at just 33. Farley was a very heavy drinker and also used substances. By 1997 - the year that Farley would die - his declining health was obvious to all. He was not only finding it difficult to perform, but he physically looked sick and grew exhausted easily. This was especially evident when he hosted Saturday Night Live on October 25. He was dead two months later - the result of a highly dangerous combination of multiple substances. At the time, Farley was nearly finished work on Shrek. Upon his death, Mike Myers was brought in as a replacement and re-recorded nearly the entire movie.
This actor died in what is arguably the most horrific on-set accident in the history of film. Morrow was shooting Twilight Zone: The Movie with two young actors named Myca Dinh Le and Renee Shin-Yi Chen. The scene was very elaborate. A helicopter was flying overhead, explosions were going off, and Morrow was running across a body of water while holding the actors in his arms. A pyrotechnic went off and damaged the helicopter, causing it to spiral out of control. It quickly plummeted to the ground and landed right on top of the actors. This horrible accident resulted in lengthy court battles. The parents of the young actors were awarded an undisclosed settlement, as were Morrows children.
This is another actor who tragically succumbed to substance use disorder. Hoffman used substances in university, but he entered rehab at 22 and stayed sober for much of his adult life. Unfortunately, he relapsed in 2013 and died soon after. On February 2, 2014, Hoffman was found dead. Further investigation showed that multiple substances were in his system. The official cause of death was acute mixed drug intoxication. Hoffman was nearly finished filming The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, but the movie needed some last-minute rewrites to accommodate his sudden death.
This was a very famous English magician who performed funny tricks on television. However, Coopers career was waning by the late 70s as he fell deeper into alcohol use disorder. He also smoked up to forty cigars a day. On April 15, 1984, Cooper was filming a live variety show called Live from Her Majesty's when he collapsed on stage. Everyone - including the audience and Coopers own assistant - believed that it was an act. However, it soon became evident that something serious had occurred, and attempts to revive Cooper began backstage. He was taken to Westminster Hospital but was declared dead on arrival, having passed from a heart attack.
By the early 60s, Marilyn Monroes life was in a downward spiral. The press was hounding her, producers didnt want to work with her, and her performances were being harshly criticized. Furthermore, she was divorcing her third husband, suffering from various health problems, and falling deeper into her substance use disorder. It ironically came to a head while filming Something's Got to Give, and Monroe was fired on June 8, 1962. She was later re-hired with the help of her co-star Dean Martin, and filming was scheduled to recommence the following October. Unfortunately, Monroe died of an overdose in August. To this day, many suspect that Monroe intentionally took her own life, although we may never know for sure. The movie was subsequently abandoned.
In late 1993, River Phoenix was in Utah filming a movie called Dark Blood. In October, he flew back to Los Angeles and spent several days consuming substances with John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. On the night of October 30, Phoenix was watching Frusciante perform at The Viper Room when he started feeling sick. He made his way outside, collapsed on the sidewalk, and began having convulsions. An ambulance was called and Phoenix was rushed to Cedars-Sinai, but he died the following morning from the overdose. Some important scenes were still required for Dark Blood, and because Phoenix was no longer available, the entire movie was scrapped. It was later released in 2012 after some significant re-editing.
Shortly before his death, Bruce Lee was diagnosed with a cerebral edema, which is an accumulation of fluid in the brain. On July 20, 1973, Lee was suffering from a headache and was given painkillers by a colleague. He then went to lie down for a nap and never woke up. It was later theorized that Lee died from an allergic reaction to an ingredient in the painkiller, which exacerbated the cerebral edema. It may have also been exacerbated by heat stroke, as Lee had had the sweat glands removed from his armpits. At the time, Lee was working on a movie called Game of Death. This was released five years later, with two martial arts experts crudely and quite obviously standing in for Lee.
The final scene of Furious 7 is iconic, with Dominic Toretto happily seeing off Brian O'Conner. This wasnt just Dom bidding farewell to Brian - it was also Vin Diesel (and the entire world, for that matter) saying goodbye to Paul Walker. In the middle of filming, Walker and his friend Roger Rodas died in a horrible car crash in Santa Clarita, California. The decision was made to continue filming without Walker and to retire his character in a show of respect. Actor John Brotherton and Walkers brothers Caleb and Cody stood in for the late actor, and his face was superimposed over their bodies.
It was May 23, 1999, and 16,000 people were sitting in Kansas Citys Kemper Arena for a wrestling event called Over the Edge. Thousands more were watching at home. The Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin were headlining the main event. Owen Hart was also scheduled to fight The Godfather for the Intercontinental Championship. To make a dramatic entrance, Hart was being lowered into the ring from the rafters. Unfortunately, the escape mechanism was prematurely sprung, and Hart fell nearly 80 feet to his death. The accident was not broadcast on TV, but the thousands in attendance witnessed the fall. Hart was taken to the hospital and the show controversially continued. The audience was never informed of Harts death.
Even those who dont believe in curses might think twice after hearing about the Lee family. Brandon Lee was eight years old when his father Bruce died at the age of 32. Brandon would be even younger when he went, being just 28. Lee followed in his fathers footsteps and started working in the film industry. He landed the role as the titular character in Alex Proyas The Crow, and it was while filming this movie that he would die. While filming a violent scene, Lee was shot in the abdomen with a dummy bullet that had been lodged in the prop gun. He was taken to a nearby hospital but died after six hours of surgery.
Steve Irwin was unlike any other zookeeper or TV personality. He had a certain charm and enthusiasm about him that garnered the attention of millions, and he quickly became the worlds most popular wildlife expert. But his dangerous line of work would eventually get the best of him. While filming a documentary called Ocean's Deadliest, Irwin was pierced in the heart by a stingray and quickly bled to death. The documentary was finished without Irwin and aired in January 2007. That was after an estimated 300 million people watched his memorial service at the Australia Zoo.
According to Heath Ledgers former partner, Michelle Williams, Ledger frequently had trouble with insomnia. While filming his final movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Ledger complained about his lack of sleep to his co-star, Christopher Plummer. To deal with the insomnia, Ledger started misusing pills. In the afternoon of January 22, 2008, Ledger was found dead in his SoHo apartment. A toxicological analysis found multiple drugs in his system, and his death was ruled an accidental overdose of prescription medication. Three friends of Ledger - Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law - were brought in to replace his character in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. They play alternate versions of Ledgers character as he travels through magical realms.
What other performers who passed away before seeing their final productions did we miss? Let us know below.
Welcome to MsMojo, and today were looking at tragic times performers passed away before they were able to see their final productions released to the public or even complete them.
Tony Todd
Final Destination Bloodlines (2025)Best known for his work as the title horror icon in the Candyman franchise, Todd was a prolific actor and voice artist with over 250 credits throughout his career. Another scary franchise he was involved in was Final Destination, where he played the creepy William Bludworth, a role he reprised in 2025s Final Destination Bloodlines. However, before its release, Todd sadly passed away in 2024 after a long illness. Several months after his death, in 2025, Werewolf Game was released, with Todd in his element as a baddie. Also, in the same year, Cutters Club finally debuted, which Todd originally shot in 2005.
Cory Monteith
All the Wrong Reasons (2013) & McCanick (2013)From a jock, to a reluctant glee member, to falling in love with the club, Finn Hudson was a fan favorite character. Working on Glee slingshotted Monteith into fame and a relationship with co-star Lea Michele. Yet, behind the scenes, he struggled with substance issues. After getting treatment as a teenager, the problem returned in 2013. Sadly, that year, Monteith was found unresponsive in a hotel after an overdose of multiple substances. After Glee took a break and reworked the show, they had an emotional send-off to Finn and Monteith in the episode The Quarterback. Shortly after passing, his two final productions were screened at the Toronto International Film Festival with McCanick and All the Wrong Reasons.
Anton Yelchin
We Don't Belong Here (2017)In 1989, six months after his birth, Yelchins family left the Soviet Union and moved to the US. From there, he developed into a rising star in Hollywood from performances in Like Crazy and Terminator Salvation. Yet, Yelchins most famous role was in the rebooted Star Trek franchise as Pavel Chekov. However, weeks before the third instalment, Star Trek Beyond, was set to come out in 2016, tragedy struck. As Yelchin was getting mail, his Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled and pinned him, taking his life. The actors parents issued a lawsuit against the car models manufacturers, Fiat Chrysler, which was settled in 2018. Following his tragic death, several other films featuring Yelchin were released, the last of which was 2017s We Don't Belong Here.
Phil Hartman
Small Soldiers (1998)One half of creating Pee-Wee Herman alongside Paul Reubens, Hartman found massive comedy success as a long-running cast member on Saturday Night Live in the late 80s and early 90s. He then began voicing several characters on The Simpsons, including the iconic Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure. In 1998, Hartman was fatally shot in his sleep by his wife, Brynn Omdahl. Shortly after, while under the influence of multiple substances, she took her own life. Omdahls brother later issued a lawsuit against Pfizer, which produced a medication she was on. The suit was settled for $100,000. Hartmans final live-action film role was in 1998s Small Soldiers. He also lent his voice to the English dub for Kiki's Delivery Service and Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night.
Jean Harlow
Saratoga (1937)One of Hollywoods original Blonde Bombshells, Harlow began her acting career in 1928. It was 1930s Hells Angels when her career started to take off, turning her into an icon of the industry. In 1937, Harlow was filming alongside Clark Gable for Saratoga when she began to feel unwell and collapsed. She was soon admitted to the hospital with kidney failure. Unfortunately, Harlow didnt recover and passed away. MGM, the production company behind Saratoga, originally wanted to recast Harlows role with a different performer. However, with her fans hating that idea, Mary Dees stepped in as Harlows body double for the final scenes. Saratoga was released several weeks after the actors death, becoming one of the years highest-grossing films.
Heather O'Rourke
Poltergeist III (1988)With the creepy words of theyre here in 1982s Poltergeist, O'Rourke made her legend in the film industry as a child. After appearing in the 1986 sequel as Carol Anne Freeling, O'Rourke returned in 1988s Poltergeist III. However, months before the film debuted, the young actor collapsed at home. Suffering from septic shock from congenital stenosis of the intestine, O'Rourke had multiple heart attacks and sadly didnt make it. O'Rourkes mother, Kathleen, issued a lawsuit against the hospital that treated her daughter for wrongful death after misdiagnosing her with Crohns disease. The suit was settled out of court.
Carrie Fisher
Wonderwell (2023)With a storied career in the industry, not only was she an actor, famously playing Leia Organa in Star Wars, Fisher was also a script doctor who worked on several big productions. In 2015, she returned to the space opera franchise with the sequel, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In 2016, a year before the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Fisher had a heart attack on a flight back from the UK. While she was taken to the hospital, she unfortunately passed away. Her mother, the legendary Debbie Reynolds, died the day after. With archive footage, 2019s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker gave Leia and Fisher an ending to their story. In 2023, she appeared in her final film role, Wonderwell.
Chadwick Boseman
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)Not only was he setting the business alight with his work as the Black Panther in the MCU, but Boseman was also the go-to actor for biopics after portraying Jackie Robinson and James Brown, among others. Yet, to make it even more impressive, he had been secretly facing bowel cancer since 2016. Sadly, in 2020, the disease caught up to him, and Boseman passed away. A couple of months later, Bosemans final live-action film was released, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. His performance earned him an Oscar and BAFTA nominations, as well as a Golden Globe. Bosemans final work was voicing T'Challa in Marvels animated series What If...?, which aired in 2021, earning him a deserved Primetime Emmy.
Richard Harris
Kaena: The Prophecy (2003)A Golden Globe and Grammy-winning actor, as well as a multi-time Oscar nominee, Harris was already an icon in the industry by the time he was cast in 2001s Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as Albus Dumbledore. In 2002, several months before Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was released, the Irish actor was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Unfortunately, after a couple of months, the disease eventually took his life. Dumbledore was later recast with fellow Irish actor, Michael Gambon, taking on the wizard role. After Harry Potter, Harriss final role was voice acting for the French animated film, the 2004 English dub of Kaena: The Prophecy.
Clark Gable
The Misfits (1961)One Oscar win plus two other nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, and appearing in over 65 productions, Gable had an acting career that anyone would be jealous of. After all, with his star power and signature moustache bringing him a fortune, it was no wonder he was known as the King of Hollywood. In 1960, Gable was cast opposite Marilyn Monroe for The Misfits. However, less than two weeks after filming had finished, Gable went to the hospital with a suspected heart attack. A second attack developed an infection that sadly took his life. Three months after the tragedy, The Misfits was released, marking Gables final bow as an actor.
John Ritter
8 Simple Rules (2002-05)On September 17, 2002, ABC began airing a sitcom called 8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter. John Ritter starred as an uptight and overprotective father named Paul Hennessy. The first season was a huge ratings success for the network, but Ritter passed away shortly into the second. While rehearsing on set, Ritter started vomiting and experiencing severe chest pain, so he was rushed to a nearby hospital. He was treated for a heart attack, but his affliction was later found to be an aortic dissection. Ritter died later that night - coincidentally, in the very same hospital in which he was born. The ratings of 8 Simple Rules plummeted without Ritter, and it was canceled after three seasons.
Roy Kinnear
The Return of the Musketeers (1989)A British character actor, many people recognize Roy Kinnear as Veruca Salts father from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Kinnear worked a lot with director Richard Lester, and he starred in three of his Musketeers movies. He would die during production of the third. While shooting, Kinnear fell off a horse and suffered both a broken pelvis and internal bleeding. The injuries were severe and put great strain on Kinnears body, and he died of a heart attack the following day. Kinnears family later won multiple settlements over his death. They sued the production company for their sloppy health and safety measures, and they later went against the Madrid hospital in which Kinnear died for their poor quality of care.
Oliver Reed
Gladiator (2000)Coincidentally, Oliver Reed starred alongside Roy Kinnear in the Musketeers films, playing Athos. He later found great acclaim portraying Antonius Proximo in Gladiator, although this would be his final role. Reed suffered from alcohol use disorder and on May 2, 1999, he got into a drinking competition with some sailors while filming in Malta. He drank about $600 worth of alcohol before competing with them in arm wrestling. Following the fights, Reed collapsed and died of a heart attack. Gladiator was finished with the help of CGI and a body double, and Reed was posthumously nominated for a BAFTA.
Jon-Erik Hexum
Cover Up (1984-85)This male model was cast as Mac Harper on an 80s CBS action show called Cover Up. He appeared in just eight episodes of the show before passing away at 26. To film an action scene, Hexum was given a functional .44 Magnum that was loaded with blanks. Bored between takes, Hexum decided to play Russian roulette with the gun, seemingly unaware that blanks fired at such close range can cause serious harm. Hexum suffered some horrible luck and fired the blank directly into his head. He underwent emergency surgery and stayed on life support for about a week, but he was eventually declared brain-dead. He was then taken off and his organs were donated to those in need, including a five-year-old child.
James Dean
Giant (1956)To this day, James Dean is the only actor to have received two posthumous Oscar nominations for acting. He was nominated for his roles as Cal Trask in East of Eden and Jett Rink in Giant. Dean very famously died on September 30, 1955 when his Porsche T-boned a Ford on what is now State Route 46 in California. Dean was raced to a nearby hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival. According to the book Ferber, A Biography of Edna Ferber and Her Circle, Dean had not quite finished work on Giant at the time of his death. He was still required for dubbing in post-production, so his best friend Nick Adams filled in for his late companion.
Natalie Wood
Brainstorm (1983)Natalie Woods death remains one of Hollywoods greatest mysteries. Wood was quite popular throughout the 50s and 60s, but she took a hiatus to focus on her children. By late 1981, Wood was filming a comeback movie called Brainstorm with Christopher Walken. During a scheduled break, Wood, her husband, and Walken went on a yachting trip to Santa Catalina Island. On the night of November 28, 1981, Wood somehow went over the side and drowned. Suspicion has repeatedly been placed on her husband, Robert Wagner. He has been named a person of interest by the police, and the boats captain claimed that Wagner was responsible for his wifes death. Woods sister was brought in to replace her for the filming of Brainstorm.
John Candy
Wagons East (1994)In 1994, legendary funnyman John Candy was filming a movie called Wagons East in Mexico when he died of a heart attack in his sleep. Candy was notoriously unhealthy through much of his professional life. He continuously struggled with his weight and tended to binge eat. He was also a very heavy smoker and drinker, and he was known to have a substance use disorder. It all took a toll on his body, and he passed away at just 43. Candy had finished most of his scenes for Wagons East, and those that werent were completed with the help of a body double and some clever editing.
Aaliyah
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)Known as The Princess of R&B, Aaliyah saw great success throughout the 90s and early 2000s. All three of her albums have been certified multi-platinum, and she had five singles reach the top ten in the United States. She eventually found success in movies as well, starring as Akasha in Queen of the Damned. At the time of her death, Aaliyah was filming scenes for The Matrix Reloaded, as she had been cast as a character named Zee. Tragically, Aaliyah died in a plane crash on the night of August 25, 2001. Aaliyahs footage was cut from The Matrix Reloaded, and the character of Zee was recast with Nona Gaye in the role.
Chris Farley
Shrek (2001)Like John Candy, Chris Farley did not take care of himself, and it led to a premature death at just 33. Farley was a very heavy drinker and also used substances. By 1997 - the year that Farley would die - his declining health was obvious to all. He was not only finding it difficult to perform, but he physically looked sick and grew exhausted easily. This was especially evident when he hosted Saturday Night Live on October 25. He was dead two months later - the result of a highly dangerous combination of multiple substances. At the time, Farley was nearly finished work on Shrek. Upon his death, Mike Myers was brought in as a replacement and re-recorded nearly the entire movie.
Vic Morrow
Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)This actor died in what is arguably the most horrific on-set accident in the history of film. Morrow was shooting Twilight Zone: The Movie with two young actors named Myca Dinh Le and Renee Shin-Yi Chen. The scene was very elaborate. A helicopter was flying overhead, explosions were going off, and Morrow was running across a body of water while holding the actors in his arms. A pyrotechnic went off and damaged the helicopter, causing it to spiral out of control. It quickly plummeted to the ground and landed right on top of the actors. This horrible accident resulted in lengthy court battles. The parents of the young actors were awarded an undisclosed settlement, as were Morrows children.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (2015)This is another actor who tragically succumbed to substance use disorder. Hoffman used substances in university, but he entered rehab at 22 and stayed sober for much of his adult life. Unfortunately, he relapsed in 2013 and died soon after. On February 2, 2014, Hoffman was found dead. Further investigation showed that multiple substances were in his system. The official cause of death was acute mixed drug intoxication. Hoffman was nearly finished filming The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, but the movie needed some last-minute rewrites to accommodate his sudden death.
Tommy Cooper
Live from (1983-88)This was a very famous English magician who performed funny tricks on television. However, Coopers career was waning by the late 70s as he fell deeper into alcohol use disorder. He also smoked up to forty cigars a day. On April 15, 1984, Cooper was filming a live variety show called Live from Her Majesty's when he collapsed on stage. Everyone - including the audience and Coopers own assistant - believed that it was an act. However, it soon became evident that something serious had occurred, and attempts to revive Cooper began backstage. He was taken to Westminster Hospital but was declared dead on arrival, having passed from a heart attack.
Marilyn Monroe
Something's Got to Give (Unreleased)By the early 60s, Marilyn Monroes life was in a downward spiral. The press was hounding her, producers didnt want to work with her, and her performances were being harshly criticized. Furthermore, she was divorcing her third husband, suffering from various health problems, and falling deeper into her substance use disorder. It ironically came to a head while filming Something's Got to Give, and Monroe was fired on June 8, 1962. She was later re-hired with the help of her co-star Dean Martin, and filming was scheduled to recommence the following October. Unfortunately, Monroe died of an overdose in August. To this day, many suspect that Monroe intentionally took her own life, although we may never know for sure. The movie was subsequently abandoned.
River Phoenix
Dark Blood (2012)In late 1993, River Phoenix was in Utah filming a movie called Dark Blood. In October, he flew back to Los Angeles and spent several days consuming substances with John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. On the night of October 30, Phoenix was watching Frusciante perform at The Viper Room when he started feeling sick. He made his way outside, collapsed on the sidewalk, and began having convulsions. An ambulance was called and Phoenix was rushed to Cedars-Sinai, but he died the following morning from the overdose. Some important scenes were still required for Dark Blood, and because Phoenix was no longer available, the entire movie was scrapped. It was later released in 2012 after some significant re-editing.
Bruce Lee
Game of Death (1978)Shortly before his death, Bruce Lee was diagnosed with a cerebral edema, which is an accumulation of fluid in the brain. On July 20, 1973, Lee was suffering from a headache and was given painkillers by a colleague. He then went to lie down for a nap and never woke up. It was later theorized that Lee died from an allergic reaction to an ingredient in the painkiller, which exacerbated the cerebral edema. It may have also been exacerbated by heat stroke, as Lee had had the sweat glands removed from his armpits. At the time, Lee was working on a movie called Game of Death. This was released five years later, with two martial arts experts crudely and quite obviously standing in for Lee.
Paul Walker
Furious 7 (2015)The final scene of Furious 7 is iconic, with Dominic Toretto happily seeing off Brian O'Conner. This wasnt just Dom bidding farewell to Brian - it was also Vin Diesel (and the entire world, for that matter) saying goodbye to Paul Walker. In the middle of filming, Walker and his friend Roger Rodas died in a horrible car crash in Santa Clarita, California. The decision was made to continue filming without Walker and to retire his character in a show of respect. Actor John Brotherton and Walkers brothers Caleb and Cody stood in for the late actor, and his face was superimposed over their bodies.
Owen Hart
Over the Edge (1999)It was May 23, 1999, and 16,000 people were sitting in Kansas Citys Kemper Arena for a wrestling event called Over the Edge. Thousands more were watching at home. The Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin were headlining the main event. Owen Hart was also scheduled to fight The Godfather for the Intercontinental Championship. To make a dramatic entrance, Hart was being lowered into the ring from the rafters. Unfortunately, the escape mechanism was prematurely sprung, and Hart fell nearly 80 feet to his death. The accident was not broadcast on TV, but the thousands in attendance witnessed the fall. Hart was taken to the hospital and the show controversially continued. The audience was never informed of Harts death.
Brandon Lee
The Crow (1994)Even those who dont believe in curses might think twice after hearing about the Lee family. Brandon Lee was eight years old when his father Bruce died at the age of 32. Brandon would be even younger when he went, being just 28. Lee followed in his fathers footsteps and started working in the film industry. He landed the role as the titular character in Alex Proyas The Crow, and it was while filming this movie that he would die. While filming a violent scene, Lee was shot in the abdomen with a dummy bullet that had been lodged in the prop gun. He was taken to a nearby hospital but died after six hours of surgery.
Steve Irwin
Ocean's Deadliest (2007)Steve Irwin was unlike any other zookeeper or TV personality. He had a certain charm and enthusiasm about him that garnered the attention of millions, and he quickly became the worlds most popular wildlife expert. But his dangerous line of work would eventually get the best of him. While filming a documentary called Ocean's Deadliest, Irwin was pierced in the heart by a stingray and quickly bled to death. The documentary was finished without Irwin and aired in January 2007. That was after an estimated 300 million people watched his memorial service at the Australia Zoo.
Heath Ledger
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)According to Heath Ledgers former partner, Michelle Williams, Ledger frequently had trouble with insomnia. While filming his final movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Ledger complained about his lack of sleep to his co-star, Christopher Plummer. To deal with the insomnia, Ledger started misusing pills. In the afternoon of January 22, 2008, Ledger was found dead in his SoHo apartment. A toxicological analysis found multiple drugs in his system, and his death was ruled an accidental overdose of prescription medication. Three friends of Ledger - Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law - were brought in to replace his character in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. They play alternate versions of Ledgers character as he travels through magical realms.
What other performers who passed away before seeing their final productions did we miss? Let us know below.
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